Don't drink and drive at Christmas

As Britain gears up for the party season, the annual THINK! Drink Drive campaign - now in its 30th year - swings into action to warn motorists about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after even just one drink.

Some 9,275 drivers tested positive for alcohol during December last year - all of whom faced court proceedings. Make sure you're not one of them this year. This year the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Department for Transport (DfT) are combining their campaigns to remind potential drink drivers, and young men in particular, just how seriously this issue is taken.

More people are stopped and breathalysed at Christmas than any other time in the year and the penalties that drivers could face are among the toughest in Europe.

The Government is introducing various additional measures to tackle drink driving:

• The law has already been changed to allow blood samples to be taken from unconscious drink-drive suspects without consent.
  
• The police have recently been given new powers to carry out roadside evidential breathtesting, subject to type approval of appropriate equipment.


• The Road Safety Act provides for increased penalties for drink drive offences, including a requirement for all drivers disqualified for two or more years to retake their driving test. This will also catch anyone committing two drink-drive offences in a 10-year period.


• It also provides for the introduction of a breath alcohol ignition interlocks programme (or "alcolocks") as a new court disposal to discourage re-offending.

Not only do drink drivers risk killing and injuring people AND losing their licence, they are at a massive financial disadvantage. If convicted, car insurance premiums will soar and any future insurance cover will be limited.

36 percent of male breath test failures in 2005 were aged 17-29 years.

It is impossible to calculate alcohol limits and it takes less than drivers might think before their driving is affected by alcohol.

The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive.

At twice the current legal limit you are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.

The Law

• Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban. If you re-offend with in 10 years you could face a mandatory disqualification of 3 years.
• An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years, so it is 11 years before a convicted driver will have a "clean" licence again.
• Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in 3 months' imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban.
• The penalty for refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis is a maximum 6 months' imprisonment, up to £5000 fine and a driving ban of at least 12 months.
• Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, a minimum 2 year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to drive legally again.

If convicted of drink driving…

• You will have a criminal record
• You won’t be able to drive for at least a year
• You could lose your job
• Your lifestyle could change dramatically
• You have trouble hiring a car for next 10 years.
• You will pay more for you car insurance in the future. Once you have a drink driving conviction the prospects of finding competitive comprehensive car insurance will be seriously impaired. Few insurers will want to take on the risk of insuring you. Those who will insure you will charge sky high premiums. Insurance premiums can escalate to over £2,000 for a modest family car.

If you want to go out and drink…

• Book a taxi
• Use public transport
• Stay overnight
• Drink soft drinks until you get home
• Arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive.

Be safe! Be sensible! Don’t drink & drive.

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